JURIST - Paper Chase: International brief ~ UN rejects latest Taiwan bid for membership

The UN General Assembly has rejected the twelfth bid by the Republic of China (Taiwan) to gain membership in the global organization. For UN purposes Taiwan has been deemed a part of the People's Republic of China since October 25, 1971, when the General Assembly passed Resolution 2758 (available here) placing representation for China with the PRC. Taiwan has a population of 23 million and considers itself to be independent of the PRC. Read the transcript of President Chen Shui-bian's press conference following the vote here. The Taipei Times has more.

In other international law news...

Russian President Vladimir Putin has restated his intent to launch pre-emptive strikes against terrorist cells around the world. Putin, speaking at the International Conference of Mayors in Moscow, stated that complacency in response to terrorism was equivalent to complicity. Putin again vowed that any action taken by the Russian Federation (official page in Russian) would be in compliance with international law. The full text of Putin's speech, translated into English, is now online from the Kremlin. Mosnews.com has more.
The United Arab Emirates recently passed the Law of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) which allowed for the DIFC to open today. The DIFC will serve as an international tax-free center for investment opportunities of foreign corporations. The UAE hopes to see the diversification of the Dubai economy lead to a financial center that will rival models in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Morningstar.com has more.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced yesterday that he will be sending UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Juan Mendez to the Darfur region of the Sudan (see JURIST background info here). The two UN officials are tasked with determining how the civilian population of the region may be protected from the attacks of local militias. The Security Council is currently considering the crisis and has been seized on the matter under Article 8 of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Read the transcript Annan's press conference here. Read the UN Press Release here.
The first case for HIV/AIDS discrimination in Kenya has been approved by Kenyan High Court judge Lady Justice Murugi Mugo. The plaintiff, a woman known as JAO, has filed suit for compensation from her catering firm for unlawful dismissal and for compensation from the hospital and doctor that allegedly revealed her HIV positive status without her consent. The Kenyan Daily Nation has more.
Indonesian police have made the first arrests in the September 9th Jakarta bombings. Police chief Da'i Bachtiar stated that they had taken a man believed to have carried the explosives used in the blast into custody. Police are also holding up to eight other individuals for questioning about the blast. BBC has more.